NOVEL NEXT Chapter 72: Chapter 65
After handing over the contact information to Muto and Matsuzaki, Akira didn't return to the underground Heroes Casino. He knew it was unwise to go back there. Not only was the situation behind the underground Heroes Casino unclear to him, but even Noguchi, who worked there, didn't seem like an easy opponent to deal with.
The underground Heroes Casino was their territory, and it was normal to have powerful quirks. Akira didn't want to walk straight into a lion's den.
One day later, the things Akira had discussed with Muto were set in motion. After returning the bank card, Akira had rented a large apartment—100 square meters, with two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen, and two bathrooms in Shizuoka County.
Everything was proceeding smoothly.
---
Inside the underground Heroes Casino, in a spacious room, Guan Shi Gaomu looked at the man standing before him with a sullen face.
"Yes, I heard it with my own ears. Muto and Matsuzaki have indeed betrayed you. They're renting an office for *The Legend of the Night* in Hosu City. They don't know what they're doing," the man said, his voice trembling.
Betraying the underground Heroes Casino was something few dared to do. There were powerful figures behind the casino, and even Noguchi's quirk was something most people couldn't deal with. Muto and Matsuzaki's fate would undoubtedly be grim.
Guan Shi Gaomu was also shocked by the news. He had never expected anyone to dare betray him, especially the underground Heroes Casino—a place where betrayal was nearly unheard of.
Moreover, the person who had taken thirty million without showing respect was *The Legend of the Night*, which surprised him. Though *The Legend of the Night* was not very well-known, he was undeniably mysterious in the eyes of the public—a true Hero.
However, no matter how powerful *The Legend of the Night* was, he had to die. Akira had crossed a line, and Guan Shi Gaomu's anger was now fully aroused. Initially, he only wanted a part of Akira's body—his hands and one eyeball—but now, his mind had changed. All three of them had to die.
"Yong, take care of this. Find out where those three are hiding and take care of them quickly. Don't leave any trace for the police," Guan Shi Gaomu ordered, raising his hand.
"Understood, don't worry, Guanshi Gaomu. Once I find them, their death is certain," the man said respectfully, his cold eyes flickering as he glanced at the people fighting on the floor.
After the man left, Guan Shi Gaomu waved his hand to dismiss the others. "Get out."
The man nervously hesitated before leaving. Some of the people who worked under the senior manager had been slow to act, and as a result, they had disappeared without a trace.
"Why, can't you hear what I said?" Guan Shi Gaomu's tone turned severe.
"Don't dare, don't dare," the man gritted his teeth and exited. He had already made up his mind to leave the underground casino after completing his task.
---
Meanwhile, Akira sat in an office in a building, with Muto and Matsuzaki both present.
"You two leaving the underground Heroes Casino means Guan Shi Gaomu will certainly come after you. He'll follow your trail and find us here," Akira said, sitting back in his chair and tapping the desk with one hand. "Install hidden cameras in the building, and bring me photos of the powerful subordinates working under Manager Takagi."
Muto nodded. "Manager Takagi will definitely try to kill me and Matsuzaki. People who betray the underground Heroes Casino don't get off easy. But I trust your abilities, so I took the risk."
"Don't worry," Akira said confidently. "As *The Legend of the Night*, I can't guarantee everything, but I will protect your lives. If Takagi dares to send someone, I'll kill them."
Muto and Matsuzaki exchanged glances before bowing deeply to Akira.
"I'll allocate ten million yen for office expenses. Follow my instructions carefully," Akira added after a pause. "It's best if you both stay inside the building and order food delivery for now."
Matsuzaki still felt some discomfort in his heart. Under Manager Takagi, he had been free to come and go. Now, with *The Legend of the Night*, he felt more confined. However, he knew there was no other choice. If he betrayed Takagi, he would have to hide. The underground Heroes Casino's influence was too great. He was no match for it, and neither was Muto. They could only follow Akira's lead.
Akira saw the unease in Matsuzaki's eyes and reassured him. "Don't worry, you won't be wronged. I'll take care of things with Guan Shi Gaomu. It won't be long before you regain your freedom."
Muto and Matsuzaki nodded, understanding Akira's words. After leaving the office, Akira went home and moved in with Inoue Sakura.
---
Akira had used to live in a simple, daily-use apartment, mostly for his own personal things like clothes and computers. But Inoue Sakura had much more to move, so they had to clean and rearrange.
"Sakura, where did you get all this money to rent such a big house?" Inoue Sakura asked, looking at the bright, clean room in disbelief.
"It's a secret," Akira smiled. "You'll live here from now on. I've stocked up on ingredients and fruits, so you can cook whatever you want."
Sakura was curious about Akira's secret, but since he refused to tell her, there was nothing she could do about it. One thing she knew for sure was that Akira was an upright person who wouldn't do anything illegal.
In truth, Akira's involvement with the underground Heroes Casino was within the bounds of legality in a certain sense. The casino ran everything under the table, both black and white. Even the police turned a blind eye. The money wasn't stolen or robbed; it was all earned in the casino.
What set Akira apart, though, was his skill and strength. His methods were far more effective than anyone else's.
If it weren't for his dealings with the underground casino, Akira might have gone back every two days, winning at least 10 million yen each time.
But after winning 30 million yen, Akira decided to lay low for a while. The casino didn't have any strong opponents recently—just a few minor players.
A week passed quickly. Akira had made good progress, and now it was time to get back to school. He took a deep breath, ready to embrace his life as a student once more.
---
**U.A. High School, Hero Course A.**
"Class is about to begin! Please stop talking and get back to your seats!" Tenya Ida rushed into the classroom, his voice loud enough for the whole class to hear.
Akira glanced at his classmates, a small smile on his face. This atmosphere—only at school could it feel like this. His classmates were full of energy.
"Aren't we all sitting down already?"
"You're the only one not in your seat," someone quipped.
Ida awkwardly returned to his desk. "What a failure."
"Tsuyu-chan, who's the teacher today?" Mina Ashido leaned back in her chair, almost tipping over if not for Tsuyu's support.
"Well…" Tsuyu-chan thought for a moment. "Ms. Aizawa's not seriously injured, but she still needs to rest and recover…"
Before Tsuyu could finish, the class suddenly noticed a familiar figure at the door.
It was *Mr. Aizawa*, with a bandaged hand and the usual tired look, but his eyes were sharp as ever.
Akira secretly nodded. It seemed that his efforts hadn't been in vain. At least Aizawa's eyes weren't damaged permanently. If he had been a step later, Aizawa's quirk would have been at risk.